U.S. patent number 5,364,106 [Application Number 07/971,375] was granted by the patent office on 1994-11-15 for card mark sensor and methods for blackjack.
This patent grant is currently assigned to No Peek 21. Invention is credited to Donald J. Laughlin, Lawrence E. Wagoner.
United States Patent |
5,364,106 |
Laughlin , et al. |
November 15, 1994 |
Card mark sensor and methods for blackjack
Abstract
A novel method and apparatus for determining whether or not a
hole card is a member of a blackjack pair without direct
observation of the hole card. The cards are separably marked in
groups of aces and of face cards and tens. Each mark is detectable
by a card mark sensor. The card mark sensor is used to
differentially determine whether or not the hole card is a member
of predetermined group when a card is placed face down therein.
Thus, when the dealer receives a face-up member of a blackjack
pair, the hole card is inserted into the sensor and determined to
be or not to be the other member of the blackjack pair immediately
and without observation of the face of the hole card. If the hole
card is the other member of the blackjack pair play is stopped, and
the next hand is thereby more quickly started. If the dealer does
not have blackjack, play continues without knowledge by either
player or dealer of the actual value of the hole card.
Inventors: |
Laughlin; Donald J. (Laughlin,
NV), Wagoner; Lawrence E. (Laughlin, NV) |
Assignee: |
No Peek 21 (Laughlin,
NV)
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Family
ID: |
24658778 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/971,375 |
Filed: |
November 4, 1992 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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866582 |
Apr 10, 1992 |
5224712 |
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662690 |
Mar 1, 1991 |
5110134 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
273/304;
273/148R; 273/309 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F
1/18 (20130101); A63F 2009/2419 (20130101); A63F
2009/2445 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63F
1/18 (20060101); A63F 1/00 (20060101); A63F
9/24 (20060101); A63F 9/00 (20060101); A63F
001/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/304,305,293,292,148R,305 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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488797 |
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Dec 1952 |
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CA |
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907322 |
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Mar 1946 |
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FR |
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1356398 |
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Feb 1964 |
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FR |
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1429348 |
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May 1966 |
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FR |
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2109213 |
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Jun 1972 |
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FR |
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2186839 |
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Nov 1974 |
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FR |
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2497677 |
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Jan 1981 |
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FR |
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2540737 |
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Aug 1984 |
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FR |
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2576518 |
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Aug 1986 |
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FR |
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2602151 |
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Feb 1988 |
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FR |
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1039429 |
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Sep 1958 |
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DE |
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3807127 |
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Sep 1989 |
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DE |
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1436381 |
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May 1976 |
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GB |
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Other References
Scarne's Encyclopedia of Games (undated)..
|
Primary Examiner: Layno; Benjamin H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Griffin, Butler, Whisenhunt &
Kurtossy
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation of our co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 07/866,582, filed Apr. 10, 1992, now U.S. Pat.
No. 5,224,712, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 07/662,690, filed Mar. 1, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No.
5,110,134.
Claims
What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:
1. A method of playing a game of blackjack, comprising the steps
of:
providing a deck of blackjack playing cards having a group of
sixteen blackjack cards with a blackjack value of ten and each said
blackjack card carrying face indicia at an otherwise unoccupied
specific site representative of only the blackjack value of
ten;
inserting, during a game of blackjack, the specific site of a down
card into a receptacle mounted to a blackjack table and generally
over a sensor for sensing said indicia and for causing a human
detectable signal to be generated in response to the sensor
detecting the presence of said indicia.
2. A method of playing a game of blackjack, comprising the steps
of:
providing a deck of blackjack playing cards having a first group of
sixteen cards each with a blackjack value often and having a first
face indicia at a first otherwise unoccupied specific site
representative of only the blackjack value of ten, the deck further
having a second group of four cards each with a blackjack value of
eleven and having a second face indicia at a second otherwise
unoccupied, specific site representative of only the blackjack
value of eleven;
disposing, during a game of blackjack, the specific first or second
sites of a down
card generally over a sensor for sensing said indicia, sensing the
indicia, and generating a human detectable signal when said indicia
is sensed by said sensor.
3. A deck of blackjack playing cards which are selectively marked
with special face indicia comprising:
a first group of blackjack playing cards comprising sixteen cards
each having a blackjack value of ten and each comprising unique
face indicia representative in a first predetermined location of
only the blackjack numerical value of ten and no other value;
a second group of blackjack playing cards comprising all cards
having blackjack values within the range of two through nine, each
card of the second group comprising a normal face without unique
face indicia;
a third group of blackjack playing cards comprising four cards each
having a blackjack value of eleven and each comprising no unique
face indicia in said first predetermined location.
4. A method of playing a game of twenty-one comprising the steps
of:
during a game of blackjack, placing at least a portion of a
dealer's down card having a sensor detectable indicia thereon and
while face down generally over a sensor;
sensing by the sensor the indicia when the down card has a value of
ten and generating a human detectable signal in response
thereto;
when the value of the dealer's down card is ten, declaring the game
to be ended when the dealer's up card is an ace; and
during a game of blackjack, placing at least a portion of the
dealer's down card having a sensor detectable indicia thereon and
while face down generally over said sensor;
sensing by the sensor the indicia when the down card has a value of
eleven and generating a human detectable signal in response
thereto; and
when the down card has a value of eleven, declaring the game to be
ended when the dealer's up card has a value of ten.
5. A method of accelerating play of a game of blackjack comprising
the steps of:
dealing two cards to each player, the dealer receiving an up card
and a down card;
ascertaining the blackjack value of the up card of the dealer;
when the dealer's up card has a blackjack value of eleven, placing
at least a portion of the down card of the dealer having a sensor
detectable indicia thereon generally over a sensor and sensing by
the sensor the indicia when the blackjack value of the down card is
ten;
generating a human detectable signal when the value of the down
card has a blackjack value of ten; and
ending the game, without additional dealing steps.
6. The method according to claim 5 wherein, when the dealer's up
card has a blackjack value of ten,
the portion of the down card placed over the sensor is in a
different orientation; and
when the sensor senses the down card to have a blackjack value of
eleven, said signal is generated, and
ending the game, without additional dealing steps
7. A deck of value encoded blackjack cards comprising:
a first group of the blackjack playing cards comprising sixteen
cards each having a blackjack value of ten, each of the sixteen ten
value cards of the first group comprising at least one
ascertainable primary and secondary face marks, the secondary face
marks being disposed in a predetermined first location
representative only of the blackjack numerical value of ten and no
other value;
a second group of the blackjack playing cards comprising four cards
each having a blackjack value of eleven, each of the four eleven
value cards of the second group comprising at least one
ascertainable primary and secondary face marks, the secondary face
marks being disposed in a different predetermined second location
representative only of the blackjack numerical value of eleven and
no other value;
a third group of blackjack playing cards comprising the remainder
of the deck excluding the first and second groups, each card of the
third group comprising no atypical face markings whatsoever
representative in ascertainable form that each card of the second
plurality has a numerical value less than ten independent of
suit.
8. A blackjack detection method by which the game of blackjack is
accelerated comprising:
when a dealer's up card has a blackjack value of ten, manually
positioning at least a portion of a dealer's down card having a
sensor detectable indicia thereon in a first orientation and
placing said portion of the down card into alignment with a card
value sensor, sensing by the sensor a specific face site of the
down card and indicia thereon, and generating a human detectable
signal when the sensor senses the down card as having a blackjack
value of eleven; and
when the dealer's up card has a blackjack value of eleven, manually
positioning at least a portion of a dealer's down card having a
sensor detectable indicia thereon into a second orientation
distinct from the first orientation and placing said portion of the
down card into alignment with the card value sensor, sensing by the
sensor another specific face site of the down card and indicia
thereon, and generating a human detectable signal when the sensor
senses the down card as having a blackjack value of ten.
9. A deck of blackjack playing cards comprising:
a first group of blackjack playing cards comprising exactly four
cards, each having a blackjack value of eleven, each card of the
first group comprising normal blackjack face indicia and additional
detectable face indicia representative of only the blackjack
numerical value of eleven and no other value;
a second group of blackjack playing cards comprising exactly
sixteen cards, each having a blackjack value of ten, each card of
the second group comprising normal blackjack face indicia and
additional detectable face indicia representative of only the
blackjack numerical value of ten and no other value;
a third group of blackjack playing cards comprising the remainder
of the deck, excluding the first and second groups, comprising
normal playing cards with normal face indicia but without
additional face indicia.
10. A deck of blackjack playing cards, the deck comprising a
plurality of blackjack playing cards comprising exactly twenty
cards, each card having a blackjack value within the range of ten
to eleven, each card of the plurality comprising normal face
indicia located in conventional face locations additional face
indicia located in at least one location on each of the twenty
cards other than the conventional face locations, the at least one
location being different for eleven value cards than ten value
cards, representative in readable form of only the blackjack
numerical value of ten or eleven, respectively, and no other
value.
11. A deck of blackjack playing cards according to claim 10 wherein
the additional face indicia of each card comprises at least one of
a dark area, a dark spot, an ink mark, a magnetic ink mark, an area
of magnetized material, an area comprising fluorescent dyes, an
area of self-radiating ink, a light polarizing area.
12. A method of playing a game of twenty-one at a more rapid pace
comprising the steps of:
during a game of twenty-one, visually ascertaining when a dealer's
up card is an ace;
thereafter, placing at least a portion of the dealer's down card
having a sensor detectable indicia thereon face down over a
detection site on a twenty-one table;
sensing by a sensor near the detecting site when the down card has
an indicia indicating a value of ten and generating a human
detectable signal in response to said sensing; and
when said signal is detected, the dealer declares the game to be
over; and
during a game of twenty-one, visually ascertaining when the
dealer's up card has a value of ten;
thereafter, placing at least a portion of the dealer's down card
having a sensor detectable indicia thereon face down over the
detection site;
sensing by said sensor when the down card has an indicia indicating
an ace and generating a human detectable signal in response to said
sensing; and
when said signal is detected, the dealer declares the game to be
over.
13. A method of conserving time taken to play a game of blackjack
on a blackjack table comprising the steps of:
dealing two down cards to each player other than the dealer and an
up card and a down card to the dealer;
ascertaining the blackjack value of the up card of the dealer;
when the dealer's up card has a blackjack value of eleven, placing
at least a portion of the dealer's down card having a sensor
detectable indicia thereon over a sensor site disposed on the table
and generally over a sensor located below the table;
sensing by said sensor when the down card has an indicia
representing a blackjack value of ten; and
ending the game.
14. A method of playing a game of twenty-one comprising the steps
of:
during a game of blackjack, placing at least a portion of a
dealer's down card having a sensor detectable indicia thereon while
face down over a sensor site on a blackjack table;
sensing by said sensor when the down card has an indicia thereon
representing a blackjack value of ten;
when the value of the down card is ten, ending the game when the
dealer's up card is a card having a blackjack value of eleven.
15. A method accelerating the play of a game of blackjack in which
a dealer's initial cards have a face down card of unknown blackjack
value and a face up card with a blackjack value of ten or eleven,
comprising:
(1) providing at least one deck of cards wherein only the cards
having a blackjack value of ten or eleven carry a sensor detectable
indicia on the faces thereof, and wherein the indicia for a card
having a blackjack value of ten is located on the card at a
position different from the location of the indicia on a card
having a blackjack value of eleven;
(2) placing the down card while being maintained in its down
position such that at least said indicia is in register with a
sensor capable of sensing the presence of the indicia;
(3) sensing when the indicia is present on the down card such that
the dealer cannot determine the blackjack value of the down card
during sensing; and
(4) generating a human detectable signal in response to the sensing
of the indicia by the sensor, wherein the signal indicates to the
dealer that the down card forms a blackjack pair with the up card
and the game is terminated.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein when the dealer's up card has a
blackjack value of ten, the down card is placed in register with
the sensor in a different orientation than when the up card has a
blackjack value of eleven.
17. A method of claim 16, wherein when the up card has a blackjack
value of ten and the down card has a blackjack value of ten, the
indicia on the down card is not in register with the sensor and no
signal is generated.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein when the up card has a
blackjack value of eleven and the down card has a blackjack value
of eleven, the indicia on the down card is not in register with the
sensor and no signal is generated.
19. An apparatus for accelerating the play of a game of blackjack
in which the dealer's initial cards have a face down card of
unknown blackjack value and a face up card with a blackjack value
of ten or eleven, in combination comprising:
(1) at least one deck of cards wherein only the cards having a
blackjack value of ten or eleven carry a sensor detectable indicia
on faces thereof, and wherein the indicia for a card having a
blackjack value of ten is located on the card at a position
different from the location of the indicia on a card having a
blackjack value of eleven;
(2) a blackjack table having a detection site for receiving at
least a portion of the cards at which said indicia is disposed and
for receiving said portion while the down card is maintained in its
down position;
(3) a sensor in register with the detection site and capable of
sensing the presence of the indicia such that the dealer cannot
determine the blackjack value of the down card; and
(4) means for generating a human detectable signal in response to a
sensing of the indicia by the sensor such that the signal indicates
to the dealer that the down card forms a blackjack pair with the up
card and the game is terminable.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the indicia is at least one
of a darkened area, a darkened spot, an ink mark, a magnetic mark,
an area of fluorescent dye, an area of self-radiating ink, and a
light polarizing area and the sensor is capable of correspondingly
sensing the indicia.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to tools and apparatus for professional
gaming and is particularly related to card mark sensing for the
game of Blackjack.
BACKGROUND
The game of Blackjack is commonly played in casinos worldwide. In a
casino, the game of Blackjack involves a dealer and one or more
players who play against cards dealt the dealer.
Another rule, basic to the game, is that each player attempts to
draw cards until the sum of the cards are as close to twenty-one as
possible, without exceeding twenty-one. Whenever the sum of the
cards in a single hand exceeds twenty-one, the player or dealer,
holding the cards loses.
Cards are dealt to each player, including the dealer, with at least
one card (the "hole" card) down. To speed play, when the dealer
shows a card which is a member of a blackjack pair of cards, the
hole card is commonly privately perused by the dealer to see if the
hole card is the other member of the blackjack pair. If the hole
card is the other member of the blackjack pair, play stops and the
dealer wins.
Those skilled in the art of Blackjack understand that statistics
play a very important part in winning or losing. Numbers of methods
have been conceived through the years for integrating knowledge of
cards played into a scheme which determines the magnitude of a bet,
or whether another card should be taken. Equally as important, when
a player is making a decision about whether or not to ask for
another card, is a knowledge of the value of the dealers hole card,
especially when the showing card is a face card.
For an unscrupulous dealer, who has a player as an accomplice, a
look at the hole card, to determine whether or not the dealer's
cards comprise a blackjack, provides an opportunity to determine
the value of the hole card. With a knowledge of the value of the
hole card, the unethical dealer is able to signal the player
accomplice the relative value of the card in a manner which is
subtle and generally undetectable by casino management. With that
knowledge, the accomplice makes a more knowledgeable decision
concerning requesting or declining being hit with another card and
thereby significantly tilts the odds of winning away from the
casino.
BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
In brief summary, this novel invention alleviates all of the known
problems comprising practices related to unethical communications
between a dealer and accomplices regarding information derived by
dealer from looking at a hole card before all of the players have
completed their draw in each hand.
The invention comprises apparatus and methods which provide a
knowledge of whether or not a card is one of a group of values or
of a predetermined value while the card remains face down and in
play in a game of Blackjack. Each card of the group of values or of
the predetermined value comprises a detectable mark on the face
thereof. A sensor apparatus is accessibly placed wherein at least a
portion of the card comprising the location of the detectable mark
is insertably placed. The sensor apparatus senses the detectable
mark when the card comprises the mark and energizes a visible or
audible signal, otherwise no such signal is provided.
Accordingly, it is a primary object to provide a sensor for
detecting a card mark during a game of Blackjack while the card
remains face down on a playing surface.
It is a key object to provide at least one card which comprises a
mark on the face thereof which is detectable by the sensor when the
at least one card is disposed face down on the playing surface
during the play of the game of Blackjack.
It is another object to provide a self-contained sensor of the at
least one mark on the at least one card used in the game of
Blackjack which is part of a portable gaming table and does not
require connection to an external power source.
It is an object to provide a sensor of a mark on a card used in the
game of Blackjack which is battery driven.
It is an object to provide a sensor of a mark on a card used in the
game of Blackjack which only draws power from a power source while
the presence of a mark is being sought.
It is another object to provide a sensor which differentially
senses at least two different marks on at least two different cards
whereby a determination is made of the presence or absence of each
of marks on each of the cards and detected differentiation is made
between the at least two cards and also between other cards not so
marked.
These and other objects and features of the present invention will
be apparent from the detailed description taken with reference to
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective of a Blackjack gaming table comprising a
playing surface and a stop covering a card mark detector.
FIG. 2 is a magnified view of a portion of the playing surface of
the Blackjack gaming table seen in FIG. 1 showing relative position
of dealer cards and direction of motion of a hole card when moved
toward the stop.
FIG. 3 is a magnified view of a portion of the playing surface of
the Blackjack gaming table seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 with a detectable
portion of the hole card disposed within the stop.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a card mark sensing circuit.
FIG. 5 is a magnified view of the stop and a portion of the
Blackjack gaming table with portions cut away for clarity of
presentation.
FIG. 6 is a card comprising a detectable mark in two preselected
corners.
FIG. 7 is a magnified perspective of a section similar to the one
in FIG. 5, but with different placement and use of a switch and a
different light emitting diode and light sensing diode component
pair.
FIG. 8 is a magnified view of a portion of the playing surface of
the Blackjack gaming table seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 with a detectable
portion of the hole card rotated and oriented differently than seen
in FIG. 3 and, thereby, disposed within the stop.
FIG. 9 is an inverted perspective of the stop seen in part in FIG.
7.
FIG. 10 is a card similar in value in the game of Blackjack to the
card seen in FIG. 6 and whereon detectable marks are disposed in
corners opposite the card in FIG. 6.
FIG. 11 is a card which is a member of a blackjack pair comprising
the cards of FIGS. 10 and 11 and whereon the detectable mark is
disposed in corners opposite the card in FIG. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
In this description, the term proximal is used to indicate the
segment of the device normally closest to a dealer when it is being
used. The term distal refers to the other end of the device.
Reference is now made to the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-9
wherein like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout.
As seen in FIG. 1, a Blackjack gaming table 10 comprises a portion
50 which raises a playing surface 12 above a support surface 14 to
a height comfortable for play. The playing surface 12 is formed of
a felt or other material well known and commonly used in the game
of Blackjack and whereupon cards 200 are dealt to a dealer and
players (not shown).
As seen in FIGS. 3 and 6, each card 200 to be positively identified
as a member of a blackjack pair of cards bears at least one
detectable mark 220' or 220, respectively. Each such mark comprises
a dark surface area or spot which is detectable photoelectrically.
However, other marks may be used within the scope of the invention.
Such marks may comprise magnetic ink or magnetized matter, reactive
inks, such as fluorescent dyes, safe levels of self radiating inks,
or light polarizing surfaces.
Each card 200 comprises a set of opposing corners 230' or 230. A
sensible or detectable mark 220 is placed in each corner 230 not
containing identifying indicia 210 for a group of cards 200
comprising each ace 252. For another group of cards 200 comprising
each face card or ten 254 a detectable mark 220' is placed in each
corner 230' disposed such that identifying indicia remain readable.
Even so, placement of detectable marks may be disposed at other
places than as seen at corners 230 and 230' within the scope of the
invention. It is expected that dealers and players alike would be
aware of such card marks and that each card mark 220 and 220' is
undetectable by players and dealers while the card 200 is disposed
in face down position 260 during play, unless the card is in the
process of being sensed at a sensor 100, to be described in detail
hereafter.
A blackjack comprises one card 200 of each of two groups of cards
200, the first group comprising each ace 252 and the second group
comprising each face card and ten 254. As stated earlier, each ace
252 comprises mark 220 in each corner 230 as seen in FIG. 6. Each
face card and ten 254 of the second group comprises mark 220'
either separately distinguishable from mark 220 by sensor 100 or
disposed for sensing at a different location by sensor 100, thereby
allowing a differentiation between the two groups to be made. Each
mark 220' is disposed in corner 230' on each face card or ten 254
while each mark 220 is disposed in corner 230 on each ace 252
permitting differentiation by which corner is inserted into sensor
100.
As seen in FIG. 1, the dealer, disposed near edge 30 along surface
12 is dealt one card 200 disposed in face up position 250 and one
card in face down position 260. Each player is normally disposed
near edge 40 of surface 12. The face down card proximal to the
position of the dealer is known as a hole card and generally
referred to as hole card 240. Sensor 100 is disposed on surface 12
proximal to the dealer to facilely receive an inserted corner of
card 200. If the card disposed in face up position 250 is a face
card or a ten 254, play is legitimately speeded by a test to see if
hole card 240 is an ace 252 and dealer therefore, has a blackjack.
Similarly, if the card disposed in face-up position 250 is an ace
252, play is speeded by a test to see if hole card 240 is a face
card or ten 254.
As seen in FIG. 2, hole card 240 is maintained in face down
position 260 and detectable corner 230 is moved proximally to stop
20 as indicated by arrow 22 when the card 200 in face-up position
250 is a face card or ten 254. Once hole card 240 is disposed at
stop 20, as seen in FIG. 3, an indicator provides a detectable
signal that separates a card 200 bearing a mark 220 from one which
does not bear such a mark. The indicator is a visually discernable
light emitting diode 180 which illuminates when the hole card is an
ace 252.
If the card 200 in face-up position 250 is ace 252, hole card 240
is maintained in face down position 260, but rotated 90.degree. to
be disposed at stop 20 as seen in FIG. 8. Thus oriented, hole card
240 is sense by sensor 100 and light emitting diode 180 is
illuminated upon detection of a mark 220' at corner 230' of face
card or ten 254. Thereby, one group of cards 200 each comprising an
ace 252 is detected independently from the other group detected by
sensor 100 comprising a face card or ten 254. Importantly, the
dealer knows proper orientation of the card 200 to be read by the
value of the card 200 in face-up position 250. If the card 200 in
face-up position 250 is an ace 252, the dealer inserts a corner 230
into sensor 100, whereupon illumination of light emitting diode 180
indicates a blackjack. Restated, if the card 200 in face-up
position 250 is a face card or ten 254, the dealer inserts a corner
230' into sensor 100, whereupon illumination of light also
indicates a blackjack.
A sensing circuit 300, disposed in close relation to stop 20, is
seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. As best seen in FIG. 4, the sensing circuit
300 comprises a battery 170 which provides power to the rest of the
circuit only when normally open switch 160 is closed, one lead 174
of battery 170 being connected to lead 264 of switch 160. Switch
160 comprises a card 200 presence sensor. That is, a card 200
disposed at stop 20 operates to physically close switch 160 thereby
activating sensing circuit 300 as is described in more detail
hereafter.
A lead 262 from the normally open side of switch 160 provides power
to line 162 which provides high voltage power distribution for
sensing circuit 300. Power through line 162 is provided to a light
emitting diode 110 through connecting lead 202. Another connecting
lead 204 connects the other side of light emitting diode 110 to a 1
Kohm resistor 112 serially connected to a 619 ohm resistor, the
other end of which is grounded.
When powered by a closure of switch 160, light emitted from light
emitting diode 110 reflects off card 200 surface in the vicinity of
stop 20, the intensity and character of the reflected light being a
function of whether or not a mark such as mark 220, seen in FIG. 4,
is on the card 200 disposed at stop 20. A light sensitive diode 120
is disposed in known manner to detect the intensity of light
reflected from an area where a mark 220 may be disposed on the card
200 disposed at stop 20. One lead of light sensitive diode 120 is
connected through line 224 to a common ground 124 which connects to
battery 170 through a lead 272. The other lead 222 of light
sensitive diode 120 connects through a lead 122 to a comparator
140. Comparator 140 comprises connections to battery power through
lead 162, to ground through lead 124, and to light sensitive diode
120 through 122. Further comparator 140 comprises a connection to a
Schmitt switching circuit 150 through line 142. Schmitt switching
circuit 150 also comprises like connections to power through lead
162 and to ground through lead 124. Comparator 140 and Schmitt
switching circuit 150 comprise circuits which are well known in the
art and are, therefore, not treated further herein.
The output of Schmitt switching circuit connects to an NPN
transistor 190 through lead 152. NPN transistor 190 comprises a
grounded emitter and a collector serially connected through lead
192 to a 1 Kohm resistor 182 to lead 280 and therefrom to light
emitting diode 180. Lead 280 connects light emitting diode 180 to
power supplying lead 162. Light sensitive diode 120, comparator
140, and Schmitt switching circuit 150 act in combination to filter
a signal derived from the area of a mark 220 to hold transistor 190
from conducting when a mark 220 is not sensed on tested card 200.
Conversely, transistor 190 is caused to conduct by action of the
combination when a mark 220 is sensed. When transistor 190
conducts, light emitting diode 180 is illuminated indicating a
sensed mark 220 or 220' on a stop 20 inserted card 200.
Thus, when a card 200 is disposed face down at stop 20 as seen in
FIG. 3, switch 160 is closed and as a consequence of a sensed mark
220, light emitting diode illuminates to signal detection of ace
252. Similarly, when card 200 is disposed face-down at stop 20 as
seen in FIG. 8, switch 160 is also closed and as a consequence of a
sensed mark 220' light emitting diode illuminates to differentially
detect a face card or ten 254. No illumination of light emitting
diode 180 indicates no detected mark.
Components are preferably disposed near stop 20 as best seen in
FIG. 5. Unless otherwise specified, all of mark sensing circuit 300
components are disposed on printed circuit card 164, preferably
affixed underneath raised portion 50, as seen in FIG. 5. Battery
170 is also disposed below raised portion 50 and is interconnected
to printed circuit card 164 via connecting lines 272 and 274. Stop
20 comprises a triangular member which provides a light shield for
light sensing circuit 300 and a physical barrier whereby a card
slid into stop 20 and above switch 160 displaces a switch lever 166
thereby depressing switch activator 168 and closing switch 160.
Light emitting diode 110 is disposed deeply within the shielding
surface of stop 20 and lights when the presence of card 200 is
sensed and when power is provide by closure of normally open switch
160.
Light emitting diode 110 is connected to printed circuit card 164
through leads 202 and 204. As seen in FIG. 5, light sensitive diode
120 is disposed to receive a signal from light emitting diode 110
as it reflects from the area of mark 220 or 220' on a card 200.
Leads 222 and 224 connect light sensitive diode 120 to printed
circuit card 164. In similar manner, leads 262 and 264 from
normally open switch 160 connect to printed circuit 164.
Light emitting diode 180 indicator is disposed in the top of stop
20 where it is visible to both dealer and player. As seen in FIGS.
1-3 and 5, light emitting diode 180 is disposed in the corner of
stop 20, although any conveniently seen position may be used.
In Blackjack play, each time a face card or ten 254 appears as
dealers card in face-up position 250, hole card 240 is inserted
into stop 20 in the orientation seen in FIG. 3. When light emitting
diode 180 illuminates, an ace is detected and play stops with
dealer winning except as to a player who has a push. If light
emitting diode 180 does not illuminate when card 200 is disposed at
stop 20, play continues. Similarly, each time an ace 252 is dealt
as the card in face-up position 250, hole card 240 is inserted into
stop 20 in the orientation seen in FIG. 8. As above, when light
emitting diode 180 illuminates, card 254 is detected and play stops
with dealer winning except as to a player who has a push. As
before, when light emitting diode 180 does not illuminate, play
continues.
Another embodiment of card markings is seen in combination in FIGS.
10 and 11. As seen in FIG. 10, ace 252 comprises indicia 210
removed a short distance from each corner 230' to provide space for
a sensor 100 detectable mark 221. When a face card or ten 254 is
face up, hole card 240 is oriented and disposed at stop 20 as seen
in FIG. 8 for purposes of detecting mark 221, since in this
embodiment the mark on each ace 252 is on corner 230' rather than
on corner 230 as seen in the embodiment of FIG. 6. Similarly, as
seen in FIG. 11, face card or ten 254 comprises sensor 100
detectable mark 220 in each corner 230. Detection of mark 220 is
accomplished by disposing hole card 240 in stop 20 in the
orientation seen in FIG. 3. By this, it is seen that orientation of
cards at stop 20 is based upon the relative location of marks to be
detected on the deck of cards being used at the time of play.
Another embodiment is seen in FIG. 8. The circuit for this
embodiment is that same as seen in FIG. 4. However, a photosensor
120' which comprises both a light emitting diode and light
sensitive diode and performs functions of light emitting diode 110
and light sensitive diode 120 in the light sensing circuit 300.
Photosensor 120' may be an EE-SB5VC photosensor available from
Omron. Further, card sensing switch 160 is replaced by a single
pole single throw switch 160' whereby power is turned on at the
beginning of play and turned off at the end of play rather than
being turned on each time a card is inserted into stop 20.
In this embodiment, switch 160' is turned on before play begins to
provide constant power to sensing circuit 300. As seen in FIG. 9,
wherein stop 20 is inverted placing the top 24 of stop 20 distal to
the viewer and the underside 22 proximal to the viewer, a
reflective surface 26 is seen adhesively or otherwise bonded to
underside 22. Stop 20 is seen to comprise a hole 180' for later
insertion of light emitting diode 180. Reflective surface 26
continuously reflects light emitted from photosensor 120' thereby
holding light emitting diode 180 "off". Thus, light emitting diode
180 lights only when a card comprising a mark 220 or 220' is
interposed between reflective surface 26 and light producing
photosensor 120' . When a card comprising a mark 220 or 220' is so
interposed, light emitting diode is set into a conducting state
each time a mark 220 or 220' is sensed.
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without
departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The
present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects
as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention
being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing
description, and all changes which come within the meaning and
range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be
embraced therein.
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